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Postgraduate Research Support Scheme
The Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS) provides University funding to attend conferences, support your fieldwork or specialist services.
- Overview and funding
- Eligibility
- How to apply
Overview and funding
COVID-19 update: changes to PRSS applications in 2020
The following Faculties and Schools will not be taking part in the PRSS application rounds in 2020:
- Faculty of Medicine and Health
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- The University of Sydney Law School
- The University of Sydney Business School
These faculties will still receive funding, but it will be automatically distributed equally among all currently enrolled students in that faculty that meet the eligibility criteria. If you are in one of these faculties or schools, you don’t need to apply through the application process. You will receive funding if you are eligible, after applications close and once your eligibility has been assessed.
If you receive funding you can also choose to opt out of your 2020 PRSS payment.
Applications for PRSS in 2020 are expected to open 4 May and close 11.59pm on 2 June.
PRSS and travel
PRSS is discretionary funding and so subject to the safeguarding measures developed by the University and published on 3 March. PRSS can only be used for international travel as a reimbursement for travel that was approved (by Head of School or Dean), paid for and completed by 3 March or for conferences that are being attended online. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that international travel is not likely to be covered by insurance, therefore students should not be travelling until it is declared safe to do so. PRSS funding can still be used for conference registration as many conferences are set up using virtual attendance.
Funding categories
Due to COVID-19, there are restrictions on conference expenses. You should refer to your faculty or school PRSS criteria to check whether any conference expenses may be applied for in your discipline.
You may be eligible if you author and present, or author and are accepted to present, a paper or poster related to your research. You are not eligible to apply under this category if you attend a conference without presenting, or if you present a paper or poster you have not authored.
International travel expenses cannot be funded by PRSS in 2020 unless before 3 March 2020.
You can obtain funding for use of specialist services, a visit to use specialist facilities or learning specialist technique(s). Expenses are directly related to your research and beyond what’s provided by your school or department.
You can obtain funding for field expenses related to your research. Funding cannot be used for infrastructure costs normally covered by your school or department.
Funding is available for items that are essential to your research, but are not normally available or are difficult to obtain at the University.
You can obtain funding for equipment that is essential to your research and outside the normal infrastructure provided by your school or department.
You can apply provided you do not hold a scholarship and will submit your thesis in the same calendar year. Printing costs will not be covered, as your thesis is submitted electronically.
Funding available
In each application round you may apply for up to a total of $3500 across one or more of the funding categories.
Last updated: 07 May 2020
